Can MPs still block a no-deal Brexit?
With the clock ticking down to 31 October, Parliament may only have one throw of the dice left
Next week looks set to be the last chance for MPs opposed to a no-deal Brexit to stop Boris Johnson taking the UK out of the EU without an agreement on 31 October.
The prime minister sparked cries of a constitutional coup on Wednesday when he announced plans to suspend parliament for five weeks from around 10 September until the Queen’s Speech on the 14 October. While debate has raged about the legality and ethics of prorogation, the immediate upshot is that MPs will have less than a week to enact legislation, or bring a vote of no confidence in the government, to prevent a no deal before Parliament is suspended.
The BBC says that in theory, unless a new plan is agreed, Johnson “does not need to do anything for a no-deal Brexit to happen”, putting the ball firmly in the MPs’ court.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
MPs take back control
Constitutionally, MPs have two potential routes: either “take control of Parliament’s timetable or get rid of the Government”, says the BBC.
“Neither would guarantee blocking a no-deal Brexit, but they could lead them there,” the broadcaster adds.
The former option would see MPs attempt to take charge of the parliamentary agenda by adding amendments to government bills to prepare for no deal, for example on agriculture and trade. However, ministers have since said no new legislation will be needed between now and Brexit, leaving this route all but dead in the water.
A more likely route, and one which parliamentarians appear to have united around, would see MPs attempt to put forward a new law blocking no deal or requesting an extension from Brussels.
Politico’s Charlie Cooper reports that anti-no-dealers were up at 2am this morning coordinating tactics, which are likely to involve requesting an emergency Standing Order 24 (SO24) debate in the Commons as soon as parliament returns on Tuesday. An SO24 would allow backbench MPs to instigate an emergency debate and vote with permission of the Speaker John Bercow, thus “setting up the opportunity to seize control of the order paper and table anti no-deal legislation”, says Cooper.
Some argue whether new legislation could be passed in time given the truncated schedule, while critics of such a move say this could provide a dangerous precedent given that government normally controls the parliamentary timetable.
Much rests on Bercow, but given his statement condemning prorogation as a “constitutional outrage”, it is a fair bet he would be open to the idea.
What about a vote of no confidence?
If legislation to delay Brexit fails, the nuclear option remains bringing down the government with a vote of no confidence.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has not ruled out calling for such a vote as soon as parliament returns next week.
The problem is that the animosity in the Commons towards the Labour leader means he cannot be assured of securing enough votes to topple Johnson.
One of the most outspoken opponents of a no-deal Brexit, former attorney general Dominic Grieve, argues that, under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act, if the Tories lost a vote of confidence, MPs could seek to put a new government of national unity in its place. This has prompted the leader of the Lib Dems Jo Swinson to suggest either veteran Tory MP Ken Clarke or Labour’s Harriet Harman as caretaker prime ministers whose sole job would be to ask for an Article 50 extension and prepare for a general election.
According to Buzzfeed’s Alex Wickham, “The government’s calculation has long been that the ‘moment of maximum danger’ comes at a potential no-confidence vote. Number 10 officials said that pro-Remain MPs would now have to make the ultimate decision next week: call a no-confidence vote and risk ‘being checkmated immediately’, or wait and see if Johnson can achieve a new Brexit deal.”
He adds: “Downing Street is bullish that it would win any such vote, but insists that if Johnson loses, he would refuse to resign, then call an election for after Brexit day, dissolve Parliament, and watch the UK fall out of the EU.”
The prime minister’s chief strategist and the brains behind Vote Leave, Dominic Cummings, has already stated that it is too late for MPs to launch such an audacious takedown of Johnson, who could simply ignore it and stay on, as there is no written law stating that a sitting PM must resign in such circumstances.
The Daily Telegraph reports that the suggestion has “provoked a furious response” from opponents, including Grieve, who said that Johnson refusing to step down would be “simply breathtaking, stupid, infantile, and it won’t work”.
Former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind warned this week that such a move would trigger the “gravest” constitutional crisis since the Civil War.
In a letter to The Times, he wrote: “I have great confidence that the prime minister will ignore the advice of Dominic Cummings.
“King Charles lost his head by flouting the constitution. Mr Johnson will wish to keep his, while some around him are, clearly, losing theirs.”
Meanwhile, Grieve told the newspaper that in the event of Johnson ignoring a no-confidence vote, the Queen could be “left with no choice but to sack” Johnson.
“The Queen is not a decorative extra. It’s true she has sought to keep herself well away from the cut and thrust of politics but at the end of the day there are residual powers and responsibilities which lie with her. She might have to dispense with his services herself,” Grieve said.
“The constitutional principles are absolutely clear.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its face
Under The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published